In a declaration by the G7 in The Hague, the Group of 7 leaders observed that Russia’s support for the OSCE mission in Ukraine was “a step in the right direction” and that they would “suspend our participation in the G-8 until Russia changes course and the environment comes back to where the G-8 is able to have a meaningful discussion”, but that “diplomatic avenues to de-escalate the situation remain open” and that “Russia has a clear choice to make”: “respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, begin discussions with the Government of Ukraine, and avail itself of offers of international mediation”.
Mogherini, next G7 not the definitive end to the G8
The decision to exclude Russia from the next G8 meeting “is not the definitive end of the format, but until Moscow de-escalates in Ukraine it will be difficult to sit at the same table”. This was Minister for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini’s statement from The Hague, who specified that “a channel for dialogue with Russia remains open”, underscoring that “yesterday foreign minister Lavrov did not meet only with Kerry but also with his Ukraine counterpart”.
Ukrain crisis does not influence Syrian weapons destruction
Italy believes deeply in the process of Syrian chemical weapons destruction and for that reason has made available its port of Gioia Tauro, Mogherini asserted from The Hague after meeting with the OPCW director general. “The tensions over the Ukraine crisis do not seem to have conditioned the process” of destroying the chemical weapons, she added, pointing out that Italy is “highly committed to this project and deeply believes in it”.
